Bowling-game apparatus



July 30, 1929.

R. S. BLAIR BOWLING GAME APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1925 tra ROBERT S.BLAIR, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

Application filed December 13, 1923. Serial No. 680,356.

This invention relates to game apparatus and with regard to its morespecilic features to apparatus for games ot the nature ot thatordinarily known as ten pins or bowling.

One of the objects of the invention'is to provide apparatus of the abovenature adapted to operate in an etlicient and highly satisfactorymanner. Another object is toprovide such apparatus simple andinexpensive in construction. Another object is to provide an apparatuscompactly disposed and conveniently operated wherein the characteristicsand features of the game ot bowling may be substantially realized.Another object is to provide a practical art relating to games ot theabove nature, which is simple and effective and conveniently adaptableto practical. operation. Other objects will be in part obvious or inpart pointed out hereinatter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations el elements, arrangements of parts and art, all as will beexemplilied in the structure to be liere- 1 inafter described and thescope ot the application of which will be indicated in the tollowingclaims. y

In the accompanying drawing in which are shown one, or more, variouspossible embodiments oi the several mechanical features oit thisinvention,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus partly cut away.

Figure 2 is a side elevation certain parts being removed to betterdisclose the strueture.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section taken substantially along the line 3-3of Figure 2.

Figure el is a detached elevation of certain part-s shown in Figures 1and 2; and

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing modilied form oi parts shown inFigure 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views oli the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is shown an open lendedtraine comprising a back-stop and side walls 11, only onejot which isshown in Figure 1, the other thereot being similar in construction andsimilarly disposed opposite thereto. lNithin this frame are-suspendedpins as will be later described, adapted to torni targets for a bail orthe like delivered through the open forward end ot the trame oppositet-he back-stop 10.

As shown in Figure 2, the frame is adapted to rest upon any suitableflooring such as shown at 12. T he term pins as employed herein is to beinterpreted to mean a member or device ot' the general nature of thepins employed in bowling alleys.

Extending upwardly troni each ot the side walls 11 are standards 13shown as three in number. Across the upper ends of the-standards 13 aresecured longitudinally extending trame members lil, between which extendfour cross members 15. Between the ttorwaid ends of the longitudinalmembers 14 extends a fifth cross member 16 having a greater verticaldimension than the members Alor a purpose which will be hereinafter setforth.

From the lower surface of the cross members 15 are suspended the pins atsuch a height as to clear the floor 12 substantially as shown in Figure2. These pins 17 are preterably ten in number and are positioned andspaced as shown in Figure 1 in triangular tormation and in substantiallythe relative positions in which the" pins of an ordinary bowling alleyare set up. The pins may be of any desired size and together with theother parts ot the apparatus are preferably so sized and relativelypositioned as to reproduce in proportion the dimensions and spacing otthe pins in the ordinary regulation bowling alley. '.lhese pins 17 maybe formed of any desired material, but preferably and most convenientlythey are made of sheet metal. rilheir lower portions have the shape ot'the ordinary bowling pin and between this part and the upper ends of thepins are provided crooked portions 18 within which are mounted, as uponbrackets 19, pivot pins 2O thus positioned so as to tall substantiallyon the line ot the axis of the pins. 1n the embodiment shown in Figure2, each ypin is provided at its upper end with a spherical head 21 aboutwhich is clamped a bracket 22 secured to a cross member 15 as at 23.`rlhis bracket 22 has a spherical inner surface within which the head 21loosely rests and is preterably shaped substantially as shown in Figure2 to encase slightly more than half the diameter et the head. In thismanner the bracket 22 pivotally supports the pin 17, but permits it toswing upwardly in a rearward direction or at an angle to rearwarddirection. The normal path of the ball for which the pins 17 are thetargets, will be considered as seen that the mounting or suspension ofthe pins above described permits them a free swinging action about theirupper pivoted ends at an angle to either side of this normal directionof movement of the ball. rl`hus if the ball strikes a pin on the side,the pin is permitted to swing in the direction of the blow and in suchswinging may strike other pins causing them to swing in the directionlin which they ar struck.

Connected to the pivot pin 2O of each pin 17 is a curved arm 24 archingupwardly and rearwardly around the head of the pin and connected at itsupper end through a spring 25 to a cable 26, an individual cable andspring being provided for each pin. Each cable 26 passes over anindividual pulley 27 mounted upon an upright 23 projecting from thecross member below which the pin is suspended. rlhe' cables 26 extendingforwardly are all joined toa common cable 29 which passes over a pulley30 secured to the upper surface of the forward cross member 16. Upon theouter surface of part 16, as better shown in Figure 4, is a lever 31pivotedas at 32 and to which the end of the cable 29 is connected as at33. The lever 31 is capable of swinging upwardly and downwardly aboutits pivot 32 and is held in substantially horizontal position by a catch34.

The respective pulleys 27 of each of the pins 17 are so positioned thata line through the pivot pin 20 and tangent to the surface of the pulleypasses forwardly of the center of the head 21 of the pin when the pin ishanging in normal upright position. When the lever 31 is in engagementwith the catch 34, tension is placed in the spring 25 through the cables29 and 26. Now it will be seen that when the lower portions of a pin 17is swung rearwardly or angularly as above described to a suflicientextent to move the line between the pivot 20 and the surface of thepulley 27 rearwardly of the center of the head 21, the spring` 25,through the member 24, will quickly draw the pin 17 upwardly in thedirection in which its lower portion is moved and out of operativeposition. As shown in Figure 3, brackets 22 are preferably provided withthe lower diverging portions 221, partially embracing the neck of thepin 17 to reduce the tendency of the pin to swing sideways of its ownaccord and yet permit the pin substantially free swinging in thedirection in which it is apt to be struck.

The pins having been drawn upwardly by the springs 25, as abovedescribed, the lever 31 is now released from its catch 34 and upon beingswung upwardly releases the tension in the springs 25 and permits thepins to drop back to normal operative position. The lever 31 being swungupwardly again and into engagement with the catch 34 tension is againplaced in the springs 25 andthe pins are all reset.

Referring now to Figure 5 of the drawing, there is shown anotherembodiment of the mounting of the pins. The pin 35 is provided with a.flat top 36 which rests against the lower flat surface of a bracket 37secured to the cross member 15. The pin 35 is provided with a crookedportion 38 as are the pins 17 and with a pivot member 39. Connected tothe pivot 39 is a member 40 arching upwardly over the end of the pin andconnected through a spring 25 to the cable 26. In this instance thepulley 27 mounted upon the upright 23 and over which the cable 26 passesis so positioned that a line tangent to the pulley surface and passingthrough the pivot 39 passes through the center of the flat top 36 of thepin. Thus when tension is placed in the spring 25, by means of the cable26, the pin 35 is pulled vertically v face 36 of the pin in properoperative relation. The pin 35 having been drawn upwardly by the spring25, the tension in the spring is now released as has been described andthe pindrops back to vertical rposition. being guided in such movementby the part 41. By again placing the spring 25 under tension by means ofthe lever 31, the pin is reset in normal operative position. It will. beunderstood that by cnormal operative position of the pins as employedherein is meant an upright or erect position and that when the pins areupset they are removed from this position.

It will be 'seen that this latter suspension of the pins provides asubstantially universal suspension therefor and permits them to swing inany direction in which they may be struck. Upon such swinging they arequickly drawn upwardly and out of opera'- tive position. If the ballstrikes a pin, or if a pin is struck by another pin, in an angulardirection, or even in a direction transversely to the normal path of theball toward the pins, the pinstruck will be drawn upwardly in thatdirection. In this manner the standard game of bowling wherein the pinsare simply stood on end and are free to move in the direction in whichthey are struck, is substantially reproduced. Further the pins are resetwith the greatest ease. Y

The above apparatus is adapted for use under varying conditions, but maybe employed particularly advantageously as an indoor game. It isdesirable therefore that the ball employed be of suoli nature as not toharm or mar the floor or other woodwork in case it is accidentallythrown outside the confines of the side walls 1l. The form of ballpreferably employed is such as is shown in Figure 2 comprising an outercovering l2 of a suitable fabric such as heavy canvas, for example, andfilled with a suitable material such as dried beans. Such arball may beemployed indoors without danger of harmful results. Furthermore thisball when projected along the floor or other surface has a motion whichis ordinarily a combined sliding and rolling. This is particularlyadvantageous for indoor use. Many advantages are attained also byemploying a ball of this nature which assumes a sliding motion only. Theball may be conveniently handled and curved as is the ordinary bowlingball and the suspension of the pins permitting them to swing in aplurality of directions renders possible the malring of strikes andspares as in the ordinary game of bowling. As has been mentioned beforethe pins are preferably sized and spaced in substantial proportion tothose of the ordi-V nary bowling alley. The distance from which theballs are thrown may also be suitably proportioned in accordancetherewith; for example, the` length of the regulation bowling alleybeing sixty feet, if the pins are made one-half sized according to thisinvention the distance from which the balls are thrown may be thirtyfeet.

From the above it will be seen that there is herein provided anapparatus which embodies the features of this invention and attains theVobjects thereof and that the same is well adapted to the requirementsof practical use.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and asmany changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, and as theart might be varied all without departing from the scope of theinvention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forthis vto be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention l. In apparatus of the class described, incombination, a pin pivotally suspended adj acent its upper end, thelower portion thereof hanging freely, and means connected with anintermediate portion of said pin adapted upon movement of said lowerportion to swing said pin upwardly about said pivoted upper end.

2. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a pin pivoted atits upper end and hanging in normally upright operative position, andresilient means connected to said pin normally tending to hold it inoperative position and adapted upon movement of the lower portionthereof to swing said pin about its pivot upwardly out of operativeposition.

3. ln apparatus of the class described, in combination, a pin having apivoted mounting adjacent its upper end and positioned in normallyupright operative position, and means connected to said pin below saidpivot normally tending to hold said pin in operative position andadapted upon movement of the lower portion thereof to swing said pinabout its pivot upwardly out of operative position.

4. ln apparatus of the class described, in combination, a pin pivotallysuspended adj acent its upper end, the lower portion thereof hangingfreely, a member connected to said pin at an intermediate portion andarching upwardly over said pivoted end, and means connected to saidmember tending to draw said pin in an upward direction. v

5. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a pin pivotedadjacent it-s upper end and hanging in normally upright operativeposition, a member connected to said pin below said pivot and archingupwardly over the upper end of said pin, and a spring urging said memberupwardly, said member being shaped and positioned to normally hold saidpin in operative position and adapted upon movement of the lower portionof said pin to swing the same upwardly about its pivot and out ofoperative position.

6. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a pin pivotedadjacent its upper end and hanging in normally upright operativeposition, a member connected to said pin below said pivot and extendingupwardly over the upper end of said pin, a spring urging said memberupwardly, said member be' ing shaped and positioned to normally holdsaid pin in operative position and adapted uponmovement of the lowerportion thereof to swing the same upwardly about its pivot out ofoperative position, and means for releasing the tension in said spring.

7. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a plurality ofpins each pivoted adjacent its upper end and hanging in normally uprightoperative position, resilient means connected to each of said pins belowthe pivots there-of tending normally to hold them in operative positionand adapted upon movement of the lower ends thereof to draw the sameupwardly about their pivots out of operative position, and a device forreleasing the tension jointly in each of said resilient means to permitsaid pins to swing back into operative position.

8. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a pinuniversally pivoted adj acent its upper end and hanging in normallyupright operative position, and means connected to said pin tendingnormally to hold it in operative position and adapted upon movement ofthe lower portion thereof to swing said pin about said pivot upwardlyout of operative position and hold it in the posit-ion into which itswings.

9. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a plurality ofspaced pins, means tending to swing said pins upwardly about axesadjacent their upper ends as they are struck and adapted to hold them inthe position into which they have been swung, and means adaptedsimultaneously to render ineffective said iirst means and permit thepins to swing downwardly into upright posi tion.

l0. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a pin, meansmounting said pin with its lower end above the floor and permitting itto swing upwardly, means exerting a pull on said pin normally actingsubstantially through its support and acting upon the pin at a pointbeneath that about which it swings and exerting its pull substantiallythrough said last point whereby said pull is normally effective to swingthe pin, and means adapted to render said pulling means ineffectiveafter said pin has been swung upwardly. y

ll. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a pin, meansmounting the pin in position to permit it to swing in any rearwarddirection, means normally exerting a pull upon said pin through thepoint about which it is adapted to swing and adapted to hold it in theposition into which it has upwardly been swung, and means adapted torender said last-mentioned means ineffective.

12. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a frame workadapted to rest removably upon the floor and comprising side walls and abackstop, supporting means extending upwardly from said frame work, anda plurality of pins suspended from said supporting means between saidside walls and adapted to form a target for a ball, said pins beingmounted to swing upwardly in any rearward direction.

13. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a pin adaptedto form a target, suspended from its upper portion, and adapted to swingupwardly and means adapted to prevent displacement of said upperport-ion as said pin swings.

14;. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a pin mountedfor upward swinging out of operative position, supported adjacent itsupper end and yielding means pulling said pin upwardly against saidsupport, acting along a line adapted normally to restrain said pin fromswinging In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to thisspecification this 12th day oi' December, 1923.

ROBERT BLAIR.

